CES 2014: Michael Bay was at a loss for words

The director best known for loud, action blockbusters struggled to make a peep at Samsung’s press event at CES on Monday.

A teleprompter error was to blame for Hollywood producer and director Michael Bay’s awkward appearance at the event for Samsung’s curved 105-inch UHD TVs, The Verge reported. Bay walked confidently on stage, stood in front of a wide television, and greeted the audience with a warm, “How is everyone today?” So far, so good. Bay described his goals as a director:

“I create visual worlds that are so beyond everyone’s normal life experiences,” he said.” And Hollywood is a place that creates a viewer escape. What I try to do as a director, I try to…”

That’s when things got uncomfortable. Bay noted that something was wrong with the teleprompter and decided to “wing it.” Samsung executive vice president Joe Stinziano tried to help out by asking how a curved television would change the viewer’s experience. Bay apologized, excused himself, and walked off the stage.

CNET captured the appearance.

Bay later addressed the incident on his blog, writing “I guess live shows aren’t my thing.”

“I rarely lend my name to any products, but this one is just stellar,” he wrote. “I got so excited to talk, that I skipped over the Exec VP’s intro line and then the teleprompter got lost. Then the prompter went up and down – then I walked off.”